HC stays AIIMS Director's dismissal

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, July 7 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today stayed the dismissal of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Dr P Venugopal.

Justice Anil Kumar gave the interim order after hearing the arguments of both Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam and Venugopal's counsel Arun Jaitley.

The court also asked for the notices to be sent to the Government to file its affidavit and give rejoinders within two weeks. Mr Subramanniam submitted before the court that the dismissal order was not malafide as alleged by the sacked Director. In fact, the Government could place before the court the record showing the measures initiated to ensure the Director a dignified exit, he added.

It was rather Venugopal who left the Minister with little option but to send him packing, he said.

However, Mr Jaitley responded that the Director's dismissal on the grounds of his refusal to resign is confession of malafide by the Government.

He further said that the dismissal was arbitrary and violated the Article 14 of the Constitution which guarantees equality irrespective of the nomenclature of the body issuing dismissal order.

Besides, the only known grounds for the Director's dismissal is criticism of the Government, Mr Jaitley read aloud in the court the text of the alleged criticism.

The senior BJP leader said further that the Supreme Court had said the tenure of 5 years meant permanence, more so in absence of any public interest calling for abrupt dismissal.

The alleged differences of opinion between the Director and the Minister of Health and Welfare on appointment of Dean were camouflaged by the Government to make it appear opposed to public interest, Mr Jaitley submitted.

UNI

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